Locomotive toy.



No. 768,268. f PATENTED AUG.23,'1904. D. P. CLARK; LoooMoTIVE TOY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1902. N0 MODEL.

NoJ 768,268.

Patented August 23, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

DAVID P. CLARK, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

LOCOMOTIVE TOY.A

SPECIFICATION forming;` part of Letters Patent N0. 768,268, dated. August 23, 1904. Application filed September 22, 1962.- Serial No. 124,312. (No model.)

To rif/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID P. CLARK, a citiy This invention relates to locomotive toys, i

and has for its object to produce a toy of this description in which the motive power is stored in and derived from an inertia-wheel,

which is positively connected with one or more of the running-wheels by spur-gearing.

To this end'the invention consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe, and will then particularly point out in the claim. n

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of a construction embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

In carrying out my invention I employ in conjunction with a suitable frame an inertiawheel of considerable weight and runningwheels supporting the frame and inertiawheel, one or more of said running-wheels being positively connected by spur-gearing with the. inertia-wheel, so that in imparting its initial movement to the inertia-wheel by moving the running-wheels along and in contact with a suitablesurface a high speed will be positively imparted to the inertia-wheel, the motion of which will subsequently. be positively transmitted to the running wheel or wheels when the toy is placed upon a suitable surface' and released.

In the form of construction shown, 1 indicates the frame, and 2 the inertia-wheel, provided with an axle. 3, mounted in fixed bearings 9 in the frame. The frame is supported on running-wheels 5, having axles 6 mounted in the frame. The inertia-wheel shaft is provided with a pinion 7, which meshes with a gear 8, secured on one of the axles 6, and the wheels 5, or at least one of them connected with this axle must be secured thereon, so as to rotate therewith.

' By reason of the construction which I have devised the toy may be prepared for operation by moving it over a suitable surface with the running-wheels pressed against said surface, whereby a rapid movement of rotation will be positively imparted to the inertiawheel. The toy may then be operated by placing it upon a suitable surface and releasing it, whereupon the inertia-wheel will positively impart its rotary movement to one or more of the running-wheels, and thus cause the toy to travel a considerable distance.

The structure is less expensive in cost of production than that class of locomotive toys` wherein the running-wheels are frictionally driven by contact of the inertia-wheel axle with their -peripheries, since it is not necessary to accurately turn or finish the rims of the running-wheels, asin the case of such frictional toys.

It will be understood, of course, that a suitable toy-body of any kind vmay be secured to or mounted on the frame; but the particular character of this toy-body forms no part of my present invention, and I have therefore not illustrated it.

It will be noted that the axis of the inertiawheel is horizontal and parallel with the axis of the driven wheel or wheels and in approximately the same horizontal plane therewith, so that thek structure is compact and the center of gravity is low. This permits the attachment of any desired toy-body to the frame and insures the structure against top-heaviness, so that it will not tumble over in use. f

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details of construction hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings, as it is obvious that IOO is manifestly impossible where spur-gearing 1s employed, as 1n my present improvement. Furthermore, this frictional transmission requires a special finishing of the rims of the running-wheels, which is not necessary in my preferred form of construction, and also involves a variable relation between the bearings of the running-wheels and of the inertiawheel axle, which in my preferred construction I am enabled to do away with.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A locomotive toy, comprising a frame, running-wheels mounted therein, a large spurgear positively connected with one of the running-Wheels, an inertia-wheel having a hori- Zontal axle parallel with the axis of the driven running-wheel and mounted in iixed bearings in the .frame in approximately the same horizontal plane therewith, whereby the center of gravity of the toy is made low, said axle having a spur-pinion thereon which meshes directly with the spurgear, the relations between the running-wheel axis and the inertiawheel axis being' fixed, substantially as described.

Intestimony whereof l alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID l. CLARK.

Witnesses:

R. l). SEBOLD, i H. HALL. 

